Unitary clamp

ABSTRACT

A clamp comprises a pair of integral jaws hingedly connected at one end for pivotal movement between opened and closed positions. One jaw contains a latch strike while the other jaw includes a projecting latching member selectively engageable with the latch strike for securely though releasably interconnecting the jaws in various locked positions. The clamp is fabricated from a semirigid plastic material having a high fatigue level, and is particularly adapted for releasably securing medical tubing and the like to or immediately adjacent a patient in a medical environment.

United States Patent Miller et al. p

[ July 29, 1975 UNITARY CLAMP lnventors: Gale W. Miller; James L.Geraci,

both of Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati Biomedical, Inc., Cincinnati, OhioFiled: May 23,1973

Appl. No.: 363,034

Assignee:

US. Cl. 24/81 HS; l6/D1G. 13; 24/73 SH; 24/132 HA; 24/DlG. 22; 224/28 RInt. Cl A441) 21/00 Field ofSearch... 24/258,81HH,81 HS,81 PA, 24/81 CC,81 TH, 249 R, 249 LL, 249 SL, 249 PP, 248 B, 248 L, 248 SB, 248 SL, 250R, 73 FA, 73 PS, 73 SA, 73 AP, 73 SH, 3 A, 255 SL, 255, DIG. 22, 132 HA;128/346; 224/5 H, 28 A, 28 R; l6/D1G. 13; 220/31 S References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1884 Collins 24/248 B 8/1892 l/ 1941 9/1948Daniels 224/28 R 'IIIIII'c.

2,459,603 l/l949 Verkuil 24/81 3,515,139 6/1970 Mallina 128/3463,537,150 11/1970 Emberson 24/249 R 3,665,563 5/1972 Batts 24/2583,790,429 2/1974 Berger 220/31 S FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 750,781l/l967 Canada 220/31 S Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam AssistantExaminerKenneth .l. Dorner Attorney, Agent, or Firm,l. Warren Kinney,Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A clamp comprises a pair of integral jaws hingedlyconnected at one end for pivotal movement between opened and closedpositions. One jaw contains a latch strike while the other jaw includesa projecting latching member selectively engageable with the latchstrike for securely though releasably interconnecting the jaws invarious locked positions. The clamp is fabricated from a semi-rigidplastic material having a high fatigue level, and is particularlyadapted for releasably securing medical tubing and the like to orimmediately adjacent a patient in a medical environment.

14 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEnJuLzems 3,896,527

sum 1 UNITARY CLAMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In hospitals and similarinstitutions it is always desirable and often necessary to releasablysecure various medical tubing and monitoring or information controlcables to or immediately adjacent a patient, particularly where apatient has limited control of his faculties or is severely restrictedin extent of physical activity. Critical life support fluids as well asmonitoring apparatus are generally supplied to the patient via suitabletubing or information flow cables. It is most desirable to secure thesevital life lines in a manner ensuring their effectiveness yetmaintaining their portability.

Efficient and dependable attachment as well as detachment of the tubingsand cables is also a critical factor in the effectiveness of a clampingdevice utilized to attach medical cables and tubing to or immediatelyadjacent a patient. It is, therefore, desirable that the clamping devicebe inexpensive, easy to use, and dependable. Ideally, the clampingdevice should be simple, requiring the use of only one hand to permitthe greatest freedom of the user while manipulating the clamp andvarious tubes or the like to be secured It is further desirable that theclamping device not injure or enhance the possibility of damage to thesecured or securing member and, in that regard, the clamp must permitthe simple and efficient attachment to bedding, a patients clothing, ordirectly to a patient without injury or damage. It is further imperativethat the clamp not restrict or endanger the free flow of information orfluids through the life lines supported by the clamping device.

In the past, various attempts have been made to provide a clamp for usein the medical environment. However, none of the prior art devicesprovides a clamp which is efficient and economical to use yetdependable, and easy to attach and detach. while ensuring proper flow ofinformation and fluids through the secured devices and without enhancingor causing damage to the attachment member. For example, U.S. Pat. No.3,059,645 discloses a unitary clamping device for attaching an l.V. tubeor the like to the limb ofa patient by means of an elongate strap-likemember. A pair of spaced transverse ribs are provided on one face andadjacent one end of the strap. The tube receiving recesses are containedin and are coextensive with each rib, with locking elements placed oneach side of and spaced from the ribs extending upwardly to hold thetubes in place. The strap is wrapped around the patient with the tubessecured in ribs, the strap continuing over the top I of the ribs thussandwiching the tubes between two sides of the strap. The strap is thenbuckled or secured in the typical manner.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,179,991 discloses a'clamp made of a flexible tubulardevice having a cutaway portion to form a tongue which is wrapped aroundthe tubes or cables to be held. A screw is then placed through thetongue and the tubular portion of the clamp to secure the tubing orcables. An aligator type clip is also held by the screw and within thetube portion of the clamp to provide means for attaching the mechanismto a patients clothing or bedding.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,497 discloses a snap action unitary clamp having atoggle actuated clamping mechanism for securing the clamp to clothing orthe like and a C clip for attaching tubing and carrying it to thepatient.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,374,509 discloses another unitary clamp designed tosecure fluid conductive tubes ofdifferent size. The clamp has a teardrop open tube for carrying medical tubes or the like whereina tube maybe pinched to stop the flow of fluids therethroughby moving the tubeinto the narrow portion of the tear drop. The clamp also has a narrowingslot by which the entire apparatus may be attached to bedding, clothingor the like by wedging the fabric into thevslot.

Other clamps or fasteners not directly related to medical or similarapplications are, disclosed in ,U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,459,603, 2,531,003, and3,292,233. Ofparticular interest in this group is U.S. Pat. No.3,292,223, disclosing a clamp of unitary construction being of the snapaction variety for attaching clothes to a clothes line. The clamp isbasically a closed integral ring sectioned into relatively rigidsupports carryingopposite resilient arm sections wherein each armterminates in a foldable, thin web. A pair of jaw sections are provided,one extending from each web and connected to each other by athirdfoldable, thin web. A tube, for example a clothes line, is thenplaced in the jaws'after having fabric wrapped thereabout and the clampis snapped shut to secure the tubing to the fabric.

Each of the clamps devised in the prior art have certain disadvantagesin that they are not efficient or economical to use and do not providesimple, dependable attachment and detachment ofv tubular and cabledevices to or immediately adjacent a patient without special skill.Further, none of the prior art devices permit efficient andsimplemanipulation without impairing or endangering the flow of fluidsor information therethrough. Further, at least some of the prior artdevices I cured tubing and cables, without endangering or injuring thesecured member.

Other objects and features of the invention will .be readily apparentfrom the accompanyingdrawings and detailed description.-

SUMMARY" THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to aclamp for releasably securing flexible tubing or the like to a supportarticle. Specifically, the invention relates to a clamping device forreleasably securing medical tubing and cables to or immediately adjacenta patient in a medical environment.

The clamp of the present invention comprises a pair of integral jawshingedly connected at one end for pivotal movement between opened andclosed positions. A latching member projects from one jaw and isselectively engageable with a latch strike contained in the other jaw,to lock the clamp in a plurality of closed position. Passageways forcarrying tubing, cables, and the like are contained in at least one ofthe jaws and located between the latch and the hinge. When the jaws areheld in closed position the periphery of the tubing hand of an operator.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a second embodiment ofth'e" 'clamp, adapted forattachment to a limb of a patient.

is tightly held, thus securing the tubing in' predetermined position.Means for gripping a fabric material; such as bedding or a patientsclothing are provided in the'fopen end of the jaws. Thus, when the jawsare closed to secure'tubes or clamps, the open ends close attaching theclamp to a suitable fabric support. To

openfthejaws, the latch strike and latch member are merely disengaged,thereby" detaching the fabric and releasingthe tubes and cables.

interfering with the latch or the tube andcable passageways. Whentheclamp includes the strap member, it is further, desirable to providejaws conforming to the contours of a patients limb. This ensures thecomfort :of the patient while minimizing extension of the clamp beyondthesecuring member, thus reducing the possij bility'o'faccidentallymoving or opening'the clamp.

A series of guide posts are provided to properly seat tubes and cableswithin the passageways to further aid the operator in efficientlyattaching the clamp. Also, locking posts are provided to restrict thelongitudinal jaws are hingedly connected at 11- for movement betweenopen and closed positions A latch 12 including While a detaileddescription of the preferred embodi-.

ments follows, it'should be understood that alteration in'exactstructural details may be made without deterring from the scope andspirit of the invention.

1.. DESCRIPTION OF THEDRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment ofa clamp embodying the teachings of the present invention, showing thejaws of the clamp in'a locked position.

FIG. 2 is a view conforming generally to the view of FIG. 1, showing theclamp in section. 7

FIG. 3 is 'a top view of-the clamp of FIG. 1 in a-fully opene dorextended position.

FIG. 7 is a view of the clamp of FIG. 6 showing in detail themodification including a bracelet strap.

FIG. 8 isa plan view of the clamp of FIG. '6 showing in detail .themodification for attaching the clamp to a patients limb.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the fully opened clamp of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the fully opened clamp of DESCRIPTION oF THEPREFERRED I I EMBODIMENTS a latch strike 33 is carried in each upper jawas illus- :trated and a projecting latching member 32 is integral withthe other jaw, the strike and latching member being selectivelyengageable with one another to releasably secure the upper and lowerjaws in various locked positions. The clamp of FIGS. 1 through 5 isparticularly well suited for attachment to a fabric material 13, forexample, a bed sheet or a patients clothing. The clamp of FIGS. 6through 10 includes a modification having a strap member 14 for securingthe clamp 10 to a member, for example, a patients limb.

The first embodiment of the clamp 10, illustrated in FIGS. l-through 5,is composed of an upper jaw 30 and a lower jaw 31 joined at flexiblehinge 11 for movement between opened and closed positions. A latchmechariism 12 composed of the latch strike 33 (see FIG. 2) and theprojecting latching member 32 selectively locks the jaw in a variety ofclosed positions for clamping various devices in the area between thelatch mechanism 12 and hinge 11.

The latch mechanism comprises a throat 33 having a lip edge 52 which issuited to engage the serrations on the front surface of the elongateprojecting member 32. The latching member 32 is contained in the lowerjaw 31 and projects through the throat 33 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and5.'When the clamp 10 is closed the serrations 50 engage the lip 52 forsecurely though releasably locking the clamp in a selected closedposition.

a It is desirable, when the clamp is utilized for carrying tubulardevices 20 and 21, to provide a set of passageways 16 through 19 in oneor both of the jaws 30 and 31, the passageways being disposed betweenthe latch member 12 and the hinged end 11, see FIG. I. The passageways16-19 are generated by mated channels 16a through 19a in jaw 31 and 16bthrough 196 in jaw 30, as shown in FIG. 3, when channels a are in phasewith channels b cylindrical passageways are created when the clamp 10 isclosed. This facilitates the carriage of tubular'devices, for example,tubes 20 and 21 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. When the clamp is inthe position illustrated in FIGS.v I and 2, the perimeter of the tubes20 and 21 are tightly held, .without distortion.

When the clamp is opened the tubes may be adjusted or removed. In thismanner the clamp 10 provides a suitable apparatus for releasablysecuring medical tubing, for instance, intravenous (I.V.) tubing 21,information cables 20 and the like, in position during use.

A series of ribs 15 may also be contained in each of the jaws 30 and 31between the terminal end 51 of the lustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5. Thechannels 15 provide a friction gripping mechanism for securing the clamp10 to fabric material 13, for example, bedding or clothing or the like.By securing the clamp 10 at I3, the clamp is maintained in a relativelyfixed position immediately adjacent a patient.

To enhance the gripping ability of the ribs 15 when the clamp 10 is heldin closed'juxtaposition it is useful to provide nodules 34 on each ofthe projecting surfaces of channels 15, said nodules serving to enhancethe friction created when the clamp 10 is closed as in FIGS. land 2,thus decreasing the possibility of the ac cidental or unintentionalremoval of material 13 from ;the clamp while thelock member 32 engagesstrike 30.

. voir thereby eliminating possibility-of accidental or un-v seen thatthe clamp 10 is normally open when molded in the configurationillustrated-in FIGS-.13 and 4; To counteract this biasing the lockingmeans 12' is utilized to lock the clamp-"10 in a selected closedposition .dur-

ing'use. Due' to-the inherent spring-back and fatigue levels ofpolypropylene, theprojectin-g member 32 may be depressed with the thumbtorelease the lock and will automatically spring backinto the lockingposition when the force is removed. 1 1

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the clamp is particularly well suited forapplications where only one'hand is free to perform the clampingfunction. As there shown, once the tubes have been placed in channels1619,'if the clamp is held 'in the open position between the thumb andforefinger,'it is possibleto close'an'd/or' secure the clamp to anobject'simply by-advancing the two jaws 30 and 31 into a closedposition.

The clamp is also particularly well suited to be opened and removed withthe use of only one hand. When the clamp is held'as shown in FIG. 5between the thumb andforefinger, the thumb may be used to depress ordeflect projecting latch member 32 of the locking mechanism"12to'disengage -the latch strike 33. When this is done, the spring actionof the flexible hinge 11 ,will force the jaws 30 -and 31' apart, thuspermitting removal of the clamp from the fabric 13 and adjacent orremoval of the tubes 20 and 21 from channels to their smooth surfacetend to creep or shift longitudinally if only held about theirperiphery. By utilizing the two locking posts 37, the polyvinylchloridetube. 21

maybe placed in an S configuration inside the channel 16. This preventscreeping and also transfersthe pull tension from between the patient jorthe needle arid the l.V. fluid reservoir to between the clamp and thereserintentional withdrawal oftheneedleor injury to the patient. Theconfiguration of both theguideposts35 and the locking posts 37 isclearly shown in FIG. 4.

. Upon closing the clamp 10 the guide posts. 35 are seated'inthe guidechannel 36'to ensure proper seating of the cable and tube 21 and thelike in their respective channels'16-19 once the jaws 30 and 31 are inthe locked position. In this-manner the clamp 10 can be'closed'to-releasably secure the perimeter of yarious tubing devicesthus minimizing longitudinal movement.

It has been found that the flexible hinge 11 may aid in the lockingtechnique wherein a locking mechanism similarto latch 12 is utilized.The hinge 11 tends to urge jaw 30 toward the serrations 50 of member 32when the clamp is in a closed position. To enhance this capability, theflexible hinge 11 is of awedge-shaped sion thus increasing the lockingforce holding the clamp a closed position.

16-19; Due to the spring-back qualities of polypropylene and similarmaterials the'clamp will again be held in the locked position once themember32 is released.

The clamp is illustrated in a fullyextended position in FIG 3. As can beseen, the p'assage ways 16, 17, 18 and 19 of FIGS. 1 and 2 are generatedby the transverse channels 16a through 19a in jaw 31 arid 16b through19% in jaw The channels a and b mate when the clamp is locked in aclosed position. It should be understood that thecha'rin els 1641-1911and 16b'19b need not be in phase, as illustrated, but may be disposed inany relationship giving the desired number and type passageways when theclamp is closed. The formed passageways 16-19 are illustrated as varyingin size to facilitate the carriage of a va ri'ty' of devices, forexample, the large tube ascabl'e 20 and the smaller diameter intravenous(I.V.)' tube 21, see FIG. 3. Projecting guide posts extend beyond eachchannel 16a through 190 to ensure properseating of the tubes 20 and 21and the like prior to locking the jcla rn p a closed position. A guidechannel 36in jaw 31 receives the posts 35"wh'en the clamp 10 is closed.The channel 36 provides clearance for the posts thusallowing them toextend substantially beyond the top surface 60 of the jaw. 30, withoutinterference. In this manner it is possible to easily seat the tubes 20and 21 in proper channels when the clamp is open.

Projecting locking posts 37 are also provided in jaw 30 forlongitudinally securing wall flexible tubes in place once the clamp 10has been closed, for example, the IV. tube 21 in channel 16. Flexiblel.V. tubes are generally made of a polyvinylchloride material and dueThe clamp also includes means for attaching a bangar, such as "a hook tohang the clamp from a suitable ;support when not in use or when desiredto suspend the articles 20and 21 from a support structure. The clearancehole 38 and 39 are suited to receive such a clip or hangar, see FIGS. 1and 2. Holes 38 and 39 may beincludedin the original mold or laterdrilled. Generally, it is advantageous to mold clearance'hold 39 becauseit is halved into sections 390 and 39b 'in the mold product, similar tochannels 16 through 19, see FIGS. 3 and FIGS. 6 through 10 illustrate analternative embodiment of the present invention. The clampingdevice' 10comprises a pair ofjaws 40 and 41, joined by a flexible hinge -1 1 togenerate transverse channels 42, 43 and 44 of varying size to hold avariety of tubular devices. The channels 42, 43 and 44 correspond to'channels 16-19 of the first embodiment. The locking device'12 is againutilized in the 'secondembodiment, having a projecting member 32 carriedin-jaw 41, the member 32 being sele'ctively engageable with strike 33'in jaws 40. However, the jaws 40 and 41are contoured in FIGS. 6-9,

' conforming to the limbof 'a'patient, shown in phantom one side of thestrap and a friction cloth 55 as contained on the inner surface 56 ofthe other half of the strap. Thus, when the strap 14 is wrapped around asupporting member, for example, the limb of the patient (shown inphantom in FIG. 6) the two halves of the strap are merely brought intojuxtaposition as shown at 57 and frictionally held to form a braceletabout the limb.

As is more clearly shown in FIG. 9, the strap 14 is carried in a channel45 having entrace and exit ports 46 and 47. The channel 45 is deeperthan the transverse channels 42, 43, and 44 thereby carrying the strap14 beneath the tube passageways, allowing sufficient clearance for theflexible tubing carried therein, see FIG. 7. Thus, channel 45 alsocorresponds with the guide post channel 36 of the first embodiment. Asclearly illustrated in FIG. 9, the theory and principle of both clampsis the same. The guide posts 35 -permit proper seating of flexible tubesprior to clamping, the guide channel 36 having been replaced by strapclearance channel 45 to permit proper carriage of the strap 14 duringuse. While the locking posts 37 have not been included in the secondembodiment as illustrated, it should be understood that they could beadded if desired. It should further be understood that gripping ribscould be added to the second embodiment thereby further increasing itsversatility;

What is claimed is:

l. A one-piece, plastic clamp for clamping tubing and the like to asupport member, comprising a pair of elongate jaws integrally hingedtogether at one of their ends of pivotal movement to open and closedpositions, one of said jaws having an opening therethrough between theends thereof and spaced from the hinged end, a latch strike on said onejaw at one side of said opening, an upstanding latch member on the otherjaw spaced from the hinged end thereof in a position to extend throughthe opening in said one jaw and having serrations on one side thereofengageable with the latch strike to releasably latch the jaws in closedposition, a plurality of transverse arcuate channels in each jaw betweenthe latch and hinged end thereof and extending completely across thewidth of the jaws, said channels forming a plurality of transversethrough passageways in the clamp when the jaws thereof are disposed inclosed juxtaposition for clamping tubing and the like between the jaws,and an upstanding guide post on one of said jaws at the side of at leastone of said channels and projecting into said channel to engage the sideof a tube therein to guide the tube into proper registry with thechannel during closing movement of the jaws and to lock the tube inproper position in the channel when the jaws are in closedjuxtaposition.

2. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the latch member ispermanently biased toward the latch strike.

3. A clamp as recited in claim 2, wherein said bias in generated by aflexible hinge joining the pair of jaws, said hinge being of tapered,wedge shaped configuration and decreasing in thickness from said one jawtoward said other jaw.

4. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the attaching means comprisesa series of ribs in each of said jaws adjacent their terminal ends, andwherein the ribs of said one jaw are out of phase with the ribs of saidother jaw, forming a meshing relationship when said jaws are disposed inclosed juxtaposition.

5. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein saidjaws constitutecurvilinear members conforming substantially to the contour of humanlimb or the like.

6. A clamp as recited in claim 5, wherein'the attac'hing means includesmeans for carrying a strap member for securing the clamp to a human limbor the like.

7. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein guideposts are on one of saidjaws adjacent one side of saidat least one channel and extending towardthe other jaw'for aligning a flexible tube relative to said channelprior to locking said jaws in closed position.

8. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein locking outwardly from andextend completely across the width of the jaws, and wherein thetransverse ribs in one jaw are longitudinally offset from the ribs ofthe other jaw whereby said ribs are disposed in interlocking,side-byside, meshing registry when the jaws of the clamp are disposed inclosed juxtaposition, said ribs constituting means for securing theclamp to a support member.

ll. A clamp as recited in claim 10, which includes nodules projectingfrom each of said ribs thereby enhancing the gripping characteristics ofthe clampwhen the jaws of the clamp are disposed in closedjuxtaposition.

12. A clamp as in claim 1, wherein the jaws are curvilinear, said otherjaw having a pair of longitudinally spaced, transversely extendingopenings therethrough between the latch member and the hingedendthereof,

said jaw having a recess therein in communication. at its opposite endswith said last mentioned openings, and said openings and recess adaptedto receive a strap for securing said other jaw member to a human limb orthe like.

13. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein said hinge decreases inthickness from one jaw to the other jaw so that the hinges is moreflexible adjacent said other jaw whereby the jaws are resiliently urgedlongitudinally relative to one another when in closed position and thelatch serrations and latch strike are accordingly urged into securelocking engagement with one another.

14. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein a guide post is at the sideof each channel, and said guide posts are disposed centrally of thewidth of said one jaw and are aligned with one another in the directionof the iongitudinal axis of said one jaw, and a pair'of locking postsare on said one jaw at the side of one of said channels opposite theguide post therein, said locking posts disposed adjacent the oppositeends of said one channel.

1. A one-piece, plastic clamp for clamping tubing and the like to asupport member, comprising a pair of elongate jaws integrally hingedtogether at one of their ends of pivotal movement to open and closedpoSitions, one of said jaws having an opening therethrough between theends thereof and spaced from the hinged end, a latch strike on said onejaw at one side of said opening, an upstanding latch member on the otherjaw spaced from the hinged end thereof in a position to extend throughthe opening in said one jaw and having serrations on one side thereofengageable with the latch strike to releasably latch the jaws in closedposition, a plurality of transverse arcuate channels in each jaw betweenthe latch and hinged end thereof and extending completely across thewidth of the jaws, said channels forming a plurality of transversethroughpassageways in the clamp when the jaws thereof are disposed inclosed juxtaposition for clamping tubing and the like between the jaws,and an upstanding guide post on one of said jaws at the side of at leastone of said channels and projecting into said channel to engage the sideof a tube therein to guide the tube into proper registry with thechannel during closing movement of the jaws and to lock the tube inproper position in the channel when the jaws are in closedjuxtaposition.
 2. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the latchmember is permanently biased toward the latch strike.
 3. A clamp asrecited in claim 2, wherein said bias in generated by a flexible hingejoining the pair of jaws, said hinge being of tapered, wedge shapedconfiguration and decreasing in thickness from said one jaw toward saidother jaw.
 4. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the attaching meanscomprises a series of ribs in each of said jaws adjacent their terminalends, and wherein the ribs of said one jaw are out of phase with theribs of said other jaw, forming a meshing relationship when said jawsare disposed in closed juxtaposition.
 5. A clamp as recited in claim 1,wherein said jaws constitute curvilinear members conformingsubstantially to the contour of human limb or the like.
 6. A clamp asrecited in claim 5, wherein the attaching means includes means forcarrying a strap member for securing the clamp to a human limb or thelike.
 7. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein guide posts are on oneof said jaws adjacent one side of said at least one channel andextending toward the other jaw for aligning a flexible tube relative tosaid channel prior to locking said jaws in closed position.
 8. A clampas recited in claim 1, wherein locking posts are in said channels forreleasably securing the tubes against longitudinal movement in thechannel.
 9. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the clamp includesmeans for attaching a hangar to one or the other of said jaws.
 10. Aclamp as recited in claim 1, wherein that end of each of said jawsremote from the hinged ends thereof include a series of transverse ribswhich project outwardly from and extend completely across the width ofthe jaws, and wherein the transverse ribs in one jaw are longitudinallyoffset from the ribs of the other jaw whereby said ribs are disposed ininterlocking, side-by-side, meshing registry when the jaws of the clampare disposed in closed juxtaposition, said ribs constituting means forsecuring the clamp to a support member.
 11. A clamp as recited in claim10, which includes nodules projecting from each of said ribs therebyenhancing the gripping characteristics of the clamp when the jaws of theclamp are disposed in closed juxtaposition.
 12. A clamp as in claim 1,wherein the jaws are curvilinear, said other jaw having a pair oflongitudinally spaced, transversely extending openings therethroughbetween the latch member and the hinged end thereof, said jaw having arecess therein in communication at its opposite ends with said lastmentioned openings, and said openings and recess adapted to receive astrap for securing said other jaw member to a human limb or the like.13. A clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein said hinge decreases inthickness from one jaw to the other jaw so that the hinges is moreflexible adjacenT said other jaw whereby the jaws are resiliently urgedlongitudinally relative to one another when in closed position and thelatch serrations and latch strike are accordingly urged into securelocking engagement with one another.
 14. A clamp as recited in claim 1,wherein a guide post is at the side of each channel, and said guideposts are disposed centrally of the width of said one jaw and arealigned with one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis ofsaid one jaw, and a pair of locking posts are on said one jaw at theside of one of said channels opposite the guide post therein, saidlocking posts disposed adjacent the opposite ends of said one channel.